September 19, 2007

And The Award Goes To…

Shannon from Believer in Balance nominated me for an award. It’s called the Nice Matters award. I am so very slow in saying thank you to her for this honor. Shannon, you’re so sweet to me! I feel awful for failing to show my appreciation earlier! Love ya, Girlfriend!

Lisa from Midwestern Mommy gave me this same award! And she is so darn sweet she gives me a toothache! Thanks, Sugar!

And then! Rura and Miss gave me another Nice Matters award! I want to hug you. Are y’all really sure I’m nice? Sometimes I yell at the dog for no reason, you know. Hehehe.

Elizabeth from Table 4 Five also gave me a Nice Matters award! Thank you, my dear friend. You always make me feel so warm and fuzzy. But I feel like a schmuck because a million years ago, Elizabeth also awarded me as a Rockin’ Girl Blogger and I got so freakin’ busy that I never wrote my post about it. Thank you, darling girl.

And because I love these women so very much, I want to reciprocate and award you with this:

The “My Friends Rock!” Award

August 5, 2007

In Conclusion…

It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m suffering from hiccups that refuse to go away.  Dawson FINALLY! decided to take a nap — I swear he was fighting it all darn day, and after his awful behavior in church this morning, I’m thinking a nap sounds good for Mom, too.

I’m angry because Hotmail, G-mail AND Blogger are not working.  Each time I click on these friggin’ URL’s I get the “page cannot be found” message which means I can’t check my e-mail or comment on any Blogger blogs.  It’s no fun.

Doug is working the 2-10 p.m. shift at work, so it’s just me and Murphy hangin’ out.  My little dog is sitting under my feet as I write. 

I really didn’t have anything brilliant to write this morning, or this afternoon.  It’s a terribly cloudy, drizzly day and I’m going to order up an On Demand movie in a few, but I just wanted to give some shout outs to the bloggers I’ve come to love since meeting them at BlogHer last weekend.

And I promise this will be my last BlogHer post.  I think.

But what I wanted to say is that I adore some amazing women.  Liz, Elizabeth, Shannon and Shannon, Lisa, Amber, Deb, Sarah and Devra:  I spent most of my BlogHer time with you and/or getting to know you all better and I’m so grateful that I had this opportunity.  You truly made my days wondeful.

Erin, Karen, Crystal, Christina, Erika and so many others:  I barely got to spend any time with you (hell, I didn’t even get to meet Crystal) but I want you to know how much I adore you all.

And to the bloggers I met and/or exchanged business cards with, or just extended a happy hello; I think you all are fabulous.  I can’t imagine trying to link to everyone, and I’m suffering some hefty anxiety just knowing I’m leaving someone out (please forgive me!), but I want to say it was a pleasure to see you all!  AND, a blogroll listing all the bloggers I swapped business cards with at BlogHer is in the works!  Stay tuned!

There are no words to describe my experience.  I mean there are, but really, I can’t get them out of my brain and into print.  It’s just too overwhelming.  But please know that I am truly honored (or honoured as Karen would type) to have met each and every one of you.

I can’t freakin’ wait to see you all again next year!

I couldn’t resist leaving the W hotel without showing you all the lobby bathroom.  Funky pink, eh?

July 9, 2007

Another Friend Has Left This World Too Soon

There’s nothing worse than learning about the death of a friend in the newspaper.  It always devastates me to read that someone I knew has passed away.

A former co-worker and great pal of mine, Aaron, passed away last Thursday.  He was only twenty-five years old, but I don’t know the cause of his death.  When I saw the obituary in the newspaper, my stomach sank and I immediately felt like throwing up.  Why did he have to leave this Earth before his time?  I just can’t stand to think about it.

I met Aaron when I started working for Travel Guard in 2003.  He was my team leader and first mentor in my new job.  Aaron was kind, generous, friendly and eager to help anyone in need.  There was never a frown on his face.  Never.  

In the 3 1/2 years I worked with him, he was always smiling, he always said hello to me and never failed to ask how I was or make a comment about Dawson and parenthood.  The one thing that made Aaron such a great friend was his ability to truly listen to people.  He always made me feel like what I was saying was important. His kindness will never be forgotten.

When I left the company last November, Aaron’s smile and good cheer were the things I missed the most.

Aaron has two young sons and his love for his boys cannot be measured.  Photos of Conlin and Chase were tacked all over his cubicle and I remember him saying that time goes by so quickly and he wished his sons could stay little forever. 

I have never met his wife, but I do know he loved her so very much.  The way his face would light up when he spoke of her showed his undying affection.  I cannot think about the grief she is suffering.  It breaks my heart.

There are so many words rushing through my mind that I can’t seem to get out.

I’m going to miss Aaron so much…

He was one amazing person and I feel so lucky to have met him.

Those we love remain with us…

In the whisper of the wind, in a soft rain that falls from Heaven.

In each sunrise, In each sunset.

In every single star that lights the night sky, and in every single memory we hold within our hearts.

God be with you, Aaron.

June 25, 2007

The Key to My Heart is in Silver

I’m in love with this bracelet.

I must have it.

Visit Cheeky Jewelry, it’s a wonderful online store selling jewelry.  My favorite!  Plus, my blog friend Rebecca puts her entire heart and soul into her creations!  Head over there, please?

I’m buying that bracelet right now…